Everyone just needs to CALM DOWN!

Dear Church in Canada,

I've heard that this pandemic is causing division among some of you. I've heard stories of churches physically dividing the congregation based on who's wearing a mask or not. Mask wearers sit upstairs and those who don't want to wear a mask sit downstairs. Then there's people who still don't feel comfortable attending a group gathering such as a church service and so they opt to stay home. And for that, they are judged by the others for being susceptible to fear and for not trusting God.  There are some who believe this is all a hoax and those who have seen first hand how the virus has affected their health. Then there are the churches who feel personally attacked as if the government is using this virus to directly persecute them. They use their rights and freedoms as an excuse to disobey authorities.

And to everyone who's feeling this tension and division: everyone needs to just CALM DOWN. 

Calm down. 

Stop getting caught up in all the news.

This is new for everyone. Show some grace. 

Stop pretending like you know how to lead a country. If you did, why aren't you?

Pick up your Bible and read it. Actually, study it. 

Paul writes to churches who are divided. He also writes about being careful with our liberty (our rights) so that they don't cause people to stumble. 

1 Corinthians 8. Paul is addressing the Corinthians who are divisive over eating food sacrificed to idols or not. Paul writes in verse 8 that we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat food sacrificed to idols. We also know that Jesus declared all foods clean (Mark 7:19). So technically, can we eat food sacrificed to idols? Yes, we have the freedom to do so. But should we eat food sacrificed to idols?

Paul writes in verse 9 to take care of this liberty we have so that it doesn't become a stumbling block to the weak. If someone sees you eating the sacrificed food whose conscience is weak, they may feel like it's okay to eat food sacrificed to idols. 

When I studied Paul's letters to the Corinthians last year, this passage stood out to me. Colin and I used to eat the fruit that our Buddhist neighbours would sacrifice to idols. To us, we knew it didn't hold any power and Jesus declared all foods clean. Our neighbour once asked us if it was okay for Christians to eat the sacrificed food. I believe the sacrificed food is clean and okay to eat, therefore I am free to eat it. 

But what about our Buddhist neighbours who are accustomed to sacrificing this fruit and believing it has power? What happens when they accept Christ and are still trying to distinguish between cultural customs and worshipping only ONE God? They've seen us Christians eating the sacrificed food so why can't they? In fact, why can't they just keep sacrificing it too? 

So what does Covid have to do with eating food sacrificed to idols? Nothing. But I think Paul's message in verse 9 is very clear to the Corinthian church. Yes, you have freedoms, liberties, rights. But be careful how you use them. Stop being selfish. Think of your neighbours. How will your rights affect your neighbour? 

1 Corinthians 10:23 - all things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. 

So. Do you have a right to meet with one another and worship God? Absolutely! In this circumstance, is disobeying government restrictions in any way honouring God and profitable for your neighbours? Keep in mind that Jesus was a Jew during Roman rule and even He said give to Ceasar's what are Ceasar's and give to God what belongs to God (Mark 12:17). He was not advising people to disobey the Roman rule. 

Wearing masks while we run to avoid getting fined and to keep our neighbours at ease!

My prayer is that people could step back for a second, take their head out of the news, read and listen to God's words, and think about loving their neighbours. Stop whining about not being able to meet in your church building and start being the church in your community. The world and the government will likely continue to let us down. No one is perfect and everyone has different opinions. This isn't new. 

Church, please don't join in with the worldly choir. Be thankful for your freedoms but use them lovingly. Stand apart. Reflect God's peace and unity during a time that is chaotic and divisive. Remember who is in control and calm down.